Macro Mantas

Fiji's reefs are all great for beautiful wide angle coral shots, so when guests ask "Which lens WA or macro?", you can always take great WA or macro on the dives. So this week at Jim's alley in Gau i recommended macro & even put my macro lens on, what do you know, the moment we hit the water a Manta turned up & refused to leave!!. So we all forgot about the Halameda Ghost Pipe fish that we had gone to shoot & got some great shots none the less. Non camera people would be forgiven for smirking at this point as they just enjoy the big & small no matter what. Geoff & Rae have the ideal partnership, one shoots macro & the other wide angle - marriage made in heaven. As you can see from the slide show Geoff & Alex got some great shots as the manta swooped in time & time again whilst feeding. We did make it back to Jim's & i had cunningly swapped back to WA in the hope that the manta was back, but alas no - although the Ghost Pipe Fish had a buddy.

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A beautiful encounter captured by Geoff

Soft coral crab on the wreck at Cat's. Captured by Alex

More Females with mating scars, lots of pups to come, taken by Geoff

Divemaster Mo singing at the Kava party.

Beautiful village kids from Somosomo, Gau. Taken by Alex

Manta feedin at Anthias Avenue. Taken by Alex

Close enounter with a Manta, taken by Geoff

Spadefish passing the bleachers, taken by Geoff

Richie, smiling as ever!.

Blue spotted sting ray, taken by Alex

Great night dive in Namena. Taken by Alex

Grey Reef cruising the Nigalli Passage, taken by Geoff

Rae gets a great macro shot of the Popcorn Shrimp

Sunset from Somosomo Village, taken by Alex

Alex finds another Nudi.

Picasso Trigger fish, takeb by Geoff

Whip Coral Gobi taken by Meijin

Halemeda Ghost Pipe Fish taken by Alex

Alex finds another Nudi.

Alex the Nudi king strikes again!

Great perspective shot demonstrates Meijin talent

Female Grey Reef displaying mating scars, taken by Geoff

Ribbon Eel pokes its heads out for Rae

Close encounters with Grey Reef Sharks, taken by Geoff

Royston & his monster in silhouette, taken by Meijin

Flying in formation, captured by Geoff

Lonely Fire Dart Fish. Taken by Geoff

Trumpet fish hunting & using the Grouper for cover captured by Geoff

Lucky Anenome fish are small!. Taken by Geoff

Nudi looking for food, taken by Meijin

Another great moment captured by Geoff

Huge Gorgonian Sea Fan, taken by Meijin

Rae gets the Octopus on the move.

So much colour on display, captured by Meijin

Time for a manicure in Namena, taken by Meijin

So much colour on Fiji's reefs, taken by Meijin

Cathedral at dusk, taken by Michael

Colorful Soft Coral, taken by Michael

Meijin looks small compared to the huge Sea Fan, taken by Michael

So much color, taken by Michael

Captured by Michael

Nudi feeding, taken by Michael

Lion Fish hovering on the wreck at Cat's, taken by Michael

A pair of Yellow Nose Gobi's pose for the camera

Healthy reef shot, taken by Michael

Nigalli passage was awesome. The grey reefs have been mating. The females are covered in scars and very friendly. Waiting in the bleachers for the next fly by was non stop action. Great to see such a healthy shark population & judging by the scars long may it continue.

James M. was back from Canada, making his 16th trip aboard Nai'a. The happy friendly people combined with great diving is hard to resist & will always pull you back. Alex & Katrin had travelled from Switzerland to Fiji for there honeymoon - all 6 weeks of it!. Alex did really well with his little point and shoot, especially getting a great shot of the Soft Coral Crab. The Soft Coral crabs on the wreck at Cat's seem to be getting bigger & soon i may have to recommend a WA lens for these oversized critters.

Royston kept us all entertained during the trip. Always smiling and joking around he doesn't get many holidays but certainly knew how to enjoy his!. Working for an Aquarium & being a biologist he knew his reef life.

The village visit was hosted by Somosomo in Gau. The ladies in our party danced the mekke, whilst the boys sat & drank grog with the villagers. A beautiful village on an unspoiled Island surrounded by reef - what more could you want!

Our Guests...

James

Rae

Kathrin

Royston

Meijin

Michael

Alexander

Geoff

Comments

“We loved every minute of our time with you in Tonga! It could not have been any better. Each and every member of the NAI’A team was outstanding and each of you made our whale expedition unforgettable. The whales, the hospitality, the guides, the skiff driving, the dinners and the singing and kava… Everything was wonderful. It was the best honeymoon ever!”